Veterans History Project
Library of Congress Collections
Oral histories and documentary collections from veterans of the 379th Bomb Group, preserved by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
The Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans. These collections include oral histories, photographs, letters, diaries, and memoirs.
Armand Joseph Volpini
First Lieutenant • Lead Bombardier
Service
- Unit: 526th Bomb Squadron
- Dates: 1942-1945
Locations
Atlantic City, New Jersey, Santa Ana, California, Kingman, Arizona, Deming, New Mexico...
Lead bombardier who completed 30 missions with the 526th Bomb Squadron. Born to Italian immigrants in Massachusetts, Volpini trained as an Aviator Cadet before deploying to England on a B-17.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/87494
David Ellison Ferris
Second Lieutenant • Aircrew
Service
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group
- Dates: 1943-1945
Locations
Detroit, Michigan, Manchester, New Hampshire, Bangor, Maine, Gander, Newfoundland...
Prisoner of War
Stalag Luft 1
Assigned to the 379th at Kimbolton in January 1944. His crew flew from Detroit to England via the North Atlantic, a journey taking six weeks due to engine troubles. Shot down and captured, he was held at Stalag Luft 1. Five of his crew members escaped through the Underground. At a 1980 POW reunion, he was recognized by his former radio operator.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/20724
Arlo F. Bartsch
First Lieutenant • Aircrew
Service
- Unit: 525th Bomb Squadron
- Dates: 1942-1945
Locations
United States, England
First Lieutenant who served with the 525th Bomb Squadron at Kimbolton, England from 1942-1945.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/70419
John Carl Taylor
Lieutenant Colonel • Pilot/Commander
Service
- Unit: 524th Bomb Squadron
Locations
United Kingdom, Germany, Pacific, Laos
Rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel while serving with the 524th Bomb Squadron. His service extended beyond WWII to include the Pacific and Laos.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/85680
Roland H. Martin
First Lieutenant • B-17 Pilot
Service
- Unit: 525th Bomb Squadron
- Dates: 1942-1946
- Aircraft: B-17F 42-29511 'The Iron Maiden'
Locations
Santa Ana, California, Dyersburg, Tennessee, England, France...
Prisoner of War
Stalag Luft 1, Barth
Shot down by Lt. Ludwig Wirtz of Luftbeobachterstaffel 7 at 17:00 hrs, crash-landed south of Wurzburg, Germany during the second Schweinfurt raid.
Pilot of 'The Iron Maiden' during the devastating second Schweinfurt raid where 60 American aircraft were lost. All crew members survived and became POWs. Martin was held at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth until liberation.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/67276
Elmo Fama
Technical Sergeant • Waist Gunner / Radio Operator
Service
- Unit: 526th Bomb Squadron
Locations
England, European Theater
Served as both waist gunner and radio operator on a B-17 bomber with the 526th Bomb Squadron during the Air Offensive Europe campaign.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/112628
Charles Wendell Parrish
Enlisted • Gunner
Service
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group
Locations
Kimbolton, England, Stalag Luft IV, Gross Tychow, Pomerania, European Theater
Prisoner of War
Stalag Luft IV
Crashed into the North Sea in July 1944 and was rescued by the British. Shot down over Aachen on August 9, 1944 and taken prisoner.
B-17 gunner who survived two dramatic incidents: a crash into the North Sea in July 1944 (rescued by British forces) and being shot down over Aachen in August 1944. Spent the remainder of the war as a POW at Stalag Luft IV.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/76944
Alvar Bryce Platt
Enlisted • B-17 Waist Gunner
Service
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group
Locations
RAF Kimbolton, England, Stalag Luft XVII
Prisoner of War
Stalag Luft XVII
Shot down over the English Channel, captured, and held as a prisoner of war.
B-17 waist gunner who was shot down over the English Channel. After capture, he was held as a POW at Stalag Luft XVII until liberation.
Collection Materials
Collection: AFC/2001/001/88708
All collections are part of the Veterans History Project at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
View all 379th Bomb Group records at the Library of Congress